In the traffic light coalition, the heating law is being discussed. Not only the schedule, but also the content is on the brink. The SPD, FDP and Greens are at odds.
Berlin/Munich - The planned heating law is causing a stir in the governing coalition. There is not only criticism of the content of the reform. The traffic light coalition has also been arguing for days about the timetable for the law. The FDP is questioning whether this can be passed before the summer break. The Greens and SPD, on the other hand, insist on it. An overview.
The planned Heating Act
According to the government's plans, oil and gas heating systems will only be allowed to be installed in exceptional cases from 2024. According to the GEG (Building Energy Act), at least 65 percent of new heating systems should then be operated with renewable energies "as far as possible". This should apply to all owners up to the age of 80. Classic gas and oil heating systems can only achieve this if they are operated in combination with a heat pump, for example.
Actually, after long discussions, the traffic light government had agreed to bring the project through the Bundestag before the summer break. The law is considered an important component of the project to make Germany climate-neutral by 2045.
Heating law: FDP pleads for revision of Habeck's heating plan - and shoots in the direction of the Greens
The FDP is calling for a fundamental revision of the heating law by Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens). Recently, they described the bill as a "catastrophe" and submitted 101 questions about the GEG. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing has now criticised the ARD programme "Report from Berlin". "With this heating law, you have seen what it means when you try to protect the climate with your head through the wall," said the FDP politician. "You lose the population in the process." He also pleaded for a revision and improved communication. The previous approach had "quite obviously" caused a "considerable annoyance and considerable resistance also in the population".
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr made a similar statement to Der Spiegel. "My impression is that almost everyone involved now sees that a revision of the law is needed. Now I would like to see even more movement from the Greens on this issue," he said. From his point of view, it is more crucial than the timetable "that it will be a good law".
Heating plans from Habeck: SPD insists on substantive changes - but wants to stick to the schedule
Criticism for what he saw as the slowing behavior of the FDP was from SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich. In the morning magazine of the ARD, he said: "I regret that, and that annoys me too." It brings hours of discussions not only between the members of parliament, "but it also annoys the group leaders".
The SPD does not want to accept any delay in the planned heating law. However, she is calling for changes to the previous plans. Also in the "Report from Berlin", chairman Lars Klingbeil said that the law had to be passed before the parliamentary summer recess and should also come into force at the beginning of 2024 so that citizens would have clarity. He acknowledged people's insecurities caused by the previous communication on the law. However, he made it clear that the impression should not be given that climate policy can be dispensed with. The initiation of the heat transition is necessary.
The SPD is once again focusing on a few things. For example, tenants would have to be protected so that they would not have to pay the modernization levy later. Furthermore, Klingbeil mentioned the age limit of 80 years, social graduations and transitional periods as topics.
There are still a number of things that we need to discuss in the next few weeks before the summer recess so that this law really does become a good law.
SPD politician Lars Klingbeil
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"There will be more changes," he said. "This law is made in such a way that no one is left behind, that everyone is taken along on this path," that is the promise of the SPD, according to the politician.
Traffic light "tangled" in climate protection - expert calls for "new attempt for heating turnaround"
However, according to the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), there is no need for any substantive changes to the GEG, but a complete restart for the heating transition. The recommendation to the government is to "take a deep breath, take a step back and make a new attempt at the heating transition". PIK director Ottmar Edenhofer told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. He accused the government of having "tangled" itself in climate protection.
"There would be a simple, almost elegant way out of the heating dilemma, and that would be through national certificate trading for fuel emissions," he told the newspaper. The Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG) could set an upper limit for emissions that would gradually make heating with gas more expensive. The price increase could be capped. (mbr with dpa/AFP
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